Multi-purpose padded, lap-sized, protective lap cover, to protect from pet soil, nails and claws, baby soil, food soil, provide lap warmth, double as emergency pillow, push brand identification and more, with stretchable fabric loop-shaped strap to secure lap cover in folded position

ABSTRACT

Padded, three layer, rectangular lap-sized lap cover, lightweight, portable, usually made of high loft poly fleece for easy care machine wash and dry. Loop shaped strap attached in the middle of one end slips around lap cover and holds lap cover folded to keep soil enclosed, plus doubles as carry strap. Lap cover protects human from lap pet soil, nails and claws, plus baby and food soil. Lap cover cushions and warms laps, and makes a stable base to hold small hand crafting projects such as knitting, crocheting, sewing, other thread arts, and more. When folded into a small square the lap cover doubles as an emergency pillow. Sides are differentiated by fabric in solid color or print to identify inside or outside, clean or dirty side.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/004,101 filed Nov. 21, 2007 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

This invention generally relates to improving comfort of having a smallpet on a lap, specifically to providing an attractive, protective,multi-functional surface between pet and human.

2. Prior Art

People usually want their small pets to be on their laps, but havealways been challenged with the hair, fur and dirt from pet feet. Humancomfort issue involves pain from claws digging into skin, sharplypointed joint bones pressing into flesh, and clothing damage. Petcomfort problems come from little pet feet falling into the crackbetween the thighs and slipping around over the human's clothes, a veryunstable place for the pet. Many people put towels, blankets and otherlayers between their pet and themselves to mitigate hairy transfer andpain. These one layer items look the same on both sides, which meansthey are good for one use and then have to be laundered. Otherwise, thehairy side could be set upon furniture or clothes, where the hair willtransfer in spite of efforts to keep things clean. If people are lookingonly for pain mitigation, they have several options, none convenient orpractical. Items that come to mind are pillows, blankets and towels, aswell as additional clothing. Pet beds are too large to set upon a lap.And, if people get so far as to consider stability for pet feet on theirlaps, they have already addressed it as noted above. None of theseapproaches has been satisfactory.

I've solved issues of discomfort, safety and inconvenience with myinvention.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment a lap cover made of high loft cloth inrectangular shape and human lap size comprises a flat body having a loopshaped strap providing method of holding lap cover in folded positionwhen not in use.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the 3 main layers of fabric for construction and strappiece.

FIG. 2 is a cross section showing the 3 layer construction, and extendedsides and ends of inside cover that will enclose cut edges of the 3layers.

FIG. 3 shows strap folded in half and stitching lines.

FIG. 4 shows stitched strap turned inside out.

FIG. 5 shows outside cover, extended ends from inside cover, andstretchable fabric loop-shaped strap.

FIG. 6 is a side edge view showing edge enclosed by extended side frominside cover, and extended ends of inside cover that will enclose andfinish cut ends of the lap cover.

FIG. 7 shows finished outside cover, side and end extensions from insidecover stitched into place, strap, and label placement.

FIG. 8 shows finished inside cover and stitching lines formed by lapcover construction.

FIG. 9 shows outside lap cover folded in half.

FIG. 10 shows outside cover folded the second fold.

FIG. 11 shows strap beginning to loop up over and around the twicefolded outside cover.

FIG. 12 shows strap being pulled farther toward its sewn point andaround outside cover.

FIG. 13 shows strap in place at its origin, encircling outside cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIRST EMBODIMENT—FIGS. 1-13

In all descriptions and operations, I refer to preferred materials andspecifications being the best choices, but other materials andspecification variations can be acceptable, as well. In addition,alternate embodiments are discussed under First Embodiment because theyrepresent slight variations. They are repeated under Conclusion,Ramification, Scope as they are an important part of that section.

FIG. 1 shows 3 main layers of fabric for construction and flat strappiece 20. Solid color fleece outside cover 21, and polyester battingpadding 22 shown with diagonal lines through it, are the same size.Patterned fleece inside cover 23 is cut larger so it can wrap over edgesof 22 and onto top of 21, combining topstitch construction andembellishment in the same step.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view showing the 3 layer construction. Outsidecover 21 is atop padding 22, which is atop inside cover 23. Extensions25 a and 25 b of inside cover 23 are shown ready to draw up over outsidecover 21 to enclose sides of lap cover.

FIG. 3 shows strap 20 folded lengthwise, right sides together, withdotted lines showing where 20 is stitched closed.

FIG. 4 shows strap 20 turned right side out.

FIG. 5 shows outside cover 21 with extensions 25 a and 25 b sewn intoplace onto outside cover 21. Extension ends 24 a and 24 b of insidecover 23 are shown fabric wrong side up, with stretchable fabricloop-shaped strap 20 placed onto underside of 24 b extension.

FIG. 6 shows side edge view. 25 a and 25 b are identical, so forsimplicity, 25 a is chosen for this description. 25 a is the sideextension fabric from inside cover 23 that has been drawn up overoutside cover 21 to be top stitched into place. Extensions 24 a and 24 bare shown ready to draw up over outside cover 21 and topstitch intoplace to enclose ends of lap cover.

FIG. 7 shows finished outside cover 21, inside cover 23 extensions 24 a,24 b, 25 a, and 25 b top stitched into place atop outside cover 21, plusstrap 20, and placement for label 30 for brand name and launderinginstructions.

FIG. 8 shows finished inside cover 23 and stitching lines 26 a, 26 b, 27a, and 27 b that were formed by lap cover construction.

FIG. 9 shows outside cover 21 folded in half.

FIG. 10 shows outside cover 21 folded the second fold, ready to besecured in closed position by strap 20.

FIG. 11 shows 20 beginning to loop up over and around the twice foldedoutside cover 21.

FIG. 12 shows strap 20 being pulled farther toward its origin and aroundoutside cover 21, where it will encircle lap cover and keep it in thefolded closed position.

FIG. 13 shows strap 20 in place at its origin, encircling outside cover21, holding lap cover in folded, closed position.

Construction is simple. Strap 20 is folded in half lengthwise with rightsides together and stitched with approximately 0.6 cm seam. It is veryimportant that strap seam stitching be done either with an excellentstretch stitch, or be stretched as it is stitched. If the latter methodis used, strap 20 will curl a little before being turned inside out,which is expected and permitted. 20 is turned inside out using whatevertube turner works best. 20 will now be straight rather than curled, andcan be stretched, but will return to its original configuration.Stitching this small part is extremely important. Wrong machine tension,failure to use stretch stitch, or failure to stretch while stitchingmakes a weak seam that will break when stretched over the lap cover.Correct stitching ensures durability and ease of use for a long time.One caveat to keep in mind is that strap 20 is designed to fit lap coverand its intended use, not to possess infinite stretch capacity. Itshould, however, be able to accommodate a moderately sized forearm beingslipped through the strap 20 loop when it is in position around the lapcover.

Top stitch construction, as opposed to top stitching as a finishingstep, is important for more than simply joining pieces. Top stitchconstruction layers fabric cuts upon each other, minimizing bulk andsaving time by eliminating extra step of trimming. Traditional seamconstruction pinches pieces together, creating bulk that must betrimmed. After seamed item is stitched and turned from wrong side toright side, finish top stitching is still necessary to compress bulk,keep layers from shifting, and look finished. Top stitch constructionsecures batting and keeps it from shifting inside lap cover. Finally,top stitch construction brings the edges of 23 onto the top of 21, wherethese finished overlaps look very much like a fabric binding, adecorative touch without the extra work. For lap cover, top stitchconstruction is a one step process that that binds fabric layers,secures batting, and embellishes the finished product.

Inside cover 23 is placed right side down onto table. Padding 22 iscentered onto 23. Outside cover 21 is placed wrong side down onto 22.

Side extension 15 a of 23 is drawn up onto 21 and held in place by pinsor other means. 15 a is top stitched from end to end, through layers 23on both bottom and top, 22 and 21, along cut edge of 15 a approximately0.3 cm from cut edge. Side extension 15 b is constructed identically to15 a.

End extension 14 a of 23 is drawn up onto 21 so that it overlaps end byapproximately 3.8 to 5.1 cm, and is held in place by pins or othermeans. 14 a is top stitched through layers 23 on both bottom and top, 22and 21, from side to side, along cut edge of 14 a approximately 0.3 cmfrom cut edge. 15 a and 15 b have already been stitched, so when end 14a is folded up over 21 to top stitch, the thickness of fabric at thefirst and last 2.5 cm of this stitching is doubled. Industrial machineswill stitch this bulk quickly.

Strap 20 open ends are centered onto wrong side of 23, extension 14 b,approximately 1.3 cm from cut edge, and next to each other as in FIG. 3.14 b of 23 is drawn up onto 21 so it overlaps end by approximately 3.8to 5.1 cm, and is held in place by pins or other means. 14 b is topstitched from side to side, along cut edge of 14 b approximately 0.3 cmfrom cut edge. As with 14 a, 14 b stitching at the first and last 2.5 cmof the stitching will be through extra layers.

Construction is now complete, and ready for label 30 addition. Preferredplacement onto 21 is illustrated in FIG. 5. Label 30 placement onto 21helps to keep inside cover 23 free from chewing attractions. Inaddition, 30 placement on 21 provides branding opportunity every timelap cover is opened and closed.

OPERATION—FIRST EMBODIMENT—FIGS. 1-13

Lap cover comes in standard, deluxe and custom versions. Design ofstandard and deluxe are identical. Deluxe differs from standard indetails of thicker padding and higher priced outside cover 21, alongwith increased construction time. Custom version is same basic designwith strap 20 for closure, and use of printed fabric on inside cover 23.Size can vary slightly, and outside cover 21 fabric can be any fabricthe customer desires, including something non-washable. In that case, aremovable, washable inner liner will be made to attach to non-washable21.

Original purpose is to make the time pets spend on human laps apositive, comfortable event. Further aim is to keep humans free fromhair, fur, claws, nails, and small animal bony joints causing painfulpressure on human skin. The goal is to increase physical closenessbetween pet and human, to receive positive health benefits such aslowered blood pressure and stress release. Pets will benefit fromincreased closeness, as well.

Operation is simple. From folded closed position, strap 20 is pulled upover lap cover and released. Lap cover is opened to expose inside cover23. Pets are attracted to familiar, favorite scents, so human and petscent should be transferred to new lap cover by rubbing onto human oranimal, or rubbing onto sleeping or resting spots of either human oranimal.

Pet is called to lap, or placed upon lap for a petting/bonding time.After pet hops off lap, lap cover is folded print side facing printside, or soiled side to soiled side. Lap cover is folded a second timeso folded lap cover retains the original width dimension and the foldedlength dimension becomes one quarter of the opened length. To keep infolded closed position, strap 20 is stretched up over the outside offolded lap cover and eased into place around folded lap cover

Care is easy and simple. Before laundering, brush with a hand heldrubber fingered brush to loosen hairs that have purposely clung to thelap cover, then machine wash and dry.

When pets jump onto human laps, they tend to slip around on the human'sclothes and to partly drop into the crack between the human's legs. Petsare sensitive to sounds, so when humans gasp in pain from claws andnails, the additional sound is enough to eventually make the pet stayaway from laps. Lap cover was created to make lap time soil and painfree so humans would spend more time in close physical contact withtheir pets.

Taking a small dog shopping or visiting friends becomes easier with lapcover placed in a shopping cart to prevent little feet from slippingthrough metal mesh grid. Lap cover protects furnishings at a friend'shome. As much as people love their pets, clothes and skin take a beatingfrom pet claws and nails, and people need protection. Whether visitingat a friend's house, or enjoying lap time alone with pets, skin andclothes beg for protection of lap cover.

After examining the successfulness of pet application, it becameapparent that this same design had numerous other applications. Lapcover provides solutions specific for each application, but allapplications have in common the same generic additional functions. Fromfolded closed position in FIG. 11, lap cover can be folded lengthwiseone more time and turned into a roll that becomes comfortable necksupport, as well as a little lumbar support. From the same original FIG.11 folded closed position, lap cover can be folded crosswise acrosscenter in FIG. 11, where strap 20 encircles, to form a square shape thatcan become a temporary pillow. Size and shape of lap cover make it aperfect lap warmer that will stay out of the way of chair arms,wheelchair wheels, office chair wheels, and more. Lap cover becomes aquick substitute for a pillow on which to sit, providing cushion fromhard seating surfaces. In addition, lap cover provides hands-freeporting because strap 20 is large enough for a moderately sized forearmto slip through strap 20 loop when it is in folded closed FIG. 11position around the lap cover. Lap cover hangs from the forearm or inthe crook of the elbow while both hands can be free to hold children,pets, books, anything.

Application for adult and baby relationship is very similar to pet andhuman. Bare or shoe clad baby feet are often a bit painful for adultlaps, and baby feet can slip into the leg crack. Babies also come withtheir own soil via sticky fingers, things spit up from their mouths,leaking diapers, and more. Lap cover provides soft-to-touch padded lapprotection, and soft-to-touch padded area for baby to rest on adult'sshoulder, while also protecting clothing from baby drool. Lap cover isperfect for travel about town, or extended distance travel. In foldedclosed position bound by strap 20, lap cover can be slipped over forearmas described in pet application and hands are kept free for child. Lapcover is perfect answer to keeping baby safe from public dirt by openinglap cover and placing baby onto printed inside cover 23, nowre-identifying 23 as baby clean side. Packing for air travel means fulldiaper bag with no room to spare. Lap cover can slip over forearm, outof the way, freeing diaper bag space, and be instantly ready.

Adults traveling by air can carry lap cover in hand or over forearm asabove with baby usage, instantly accessible. Lap cover provides a cleansurface to rest head for a nap, or neck support, or can warm shouldersor lap, or protect clothes from food or drink. The lightweight, compactsized lap cover can be a traveler's dream.

Student lap cover application will be for protection from food spillsand sharp-edged books, a pillow substitute, a cushion from hard surfaceseating, and more. Regular lap cover use during studying will help buildhabit of sharper, clearer focus that facilitates learning. In addition,lap cover will be attractive with school colors and logo.

Car commuter lap cover provides protection from food and beverages.Vertical placement on chest with remainder of lap cover over lap is aperfect eating position. After meal is finished, lap cover is foldedwith soil side inward, and strap 20 secures in folded position. Soilstays off upholstery and commuter always knows which side can be placednext to their clothes. Naps along the road to keep from falling asleepat the wheel are very important, but can be quite uncomfortable. Onemore fold or roll of lap cover turns it into neck or low back support.Another direction of fold turns lap cover into a small pillow, justenough to be comfortable for a quick, life saving nap. Lap cover can bespread over a too hot or too cold seat for instant comfort. Sometimeslaps get cold in the car, as well, and the perfect size warms the lapwithout danger of dangling onto the floor and getting caught insomething. The “stickiness” of fleece against most other fabrics helpsto keep it in place on human laps or car seats, rather than having lapcover slip onto floor. The compact, attractive look fits with carinterior much better than a blanket, which means lap cover is left outwhere it can be quickly reached.

Repetition-to-habit effect from use of lap cover provides means to helpmaximize effectiveness of whatever activity is engaged while lap coveris on lap. Repetition of opening the lap cover onto the lap trains thebrain to expect whatever activity has become associated with thataction. Relaxation response from having pets on laps comes more quicklyand completely; study focus becomes easier for students; healing fromcrises is facilitated. After several uses, the act of opening lap coverbecomes a signal to the brain to begin the associated activity beforethe user has consciously decided what to do next. Repetition of an actperformed with an object that is associated with the activity trains thebrain to respond to the familiar object and almost instantly narrowfocus onto activity associated with the object. Many examples exist,such as tightening laces on shoes worn for athletic competition,teachers entering a classroom, police officers opening the door of thepatrol car, artists picking up their palette, surgeons scrubbing beforean operation. They all use some object associated with the activity thatbecomes their personal signal to be ready for the activity. Lap coverworks on the same principle.

Lap covers can combine repetition-to-habit effect with brandingopportunities. Schools will have their logo on the lap cover thatbecomes a symbol of school spirit as well as a study symbol. In thestudent's case, using a school logo lap cover strengthens bond with theeducational institution by identification. Each time a student slipsstrap 20 over lap cover, unfolds and places lap cover on their lap justbefore beginning a study session, repetition-to-habit begins.

Businesses will affix their logo to lap cover for branding and use infocus sessions. Meeting facilitator can begin without lap covers andhave a casual coffee time for about 5 minutes, after which the businessportion of the meeting can be declared officially in operation. At thattime, each participant will slip strap 20 off lap cover, unfold andplace lap cover onto their lap where it will remain until the meeting isadjourned. Eventually, the repetitious use of lap cover becomes thesignal to the brain that a focus session is about to begin. The brainquickly switches into a problem solving mode in preparation for the taskat hand, while shutting out distractions.

Just as with athletic training, repetitious use of lap cover has thepotential to produce repetition-to-habit training, leading to higherlevels of performance in any setting. Though few people will take timeto address rationale behind use of lap cover, sight, memory, touch andmotion seamlessly combine to facilitate repetition-to-habit training inthe brain.

All lap covers have multi functional, practical applications, and allcan be used to establish the repetition-to-habit effect.

Just as lap cover aids cognitive training, lap cover facilitatesemotional and psychological benefits, as well. Therapists will usegeneric lap cover called FocusLaps. The slipping off of strap 20,unfolding and placing onto the lap will become a signal to the brain tobegin introspection and emotional work. Sharper focus will come morequickly and be less likely to be interrupted.

Emotional application of lap cover helps people in crisis. With a briefinstruction sheet, the grieving person will slip strap 20 off lap cover,open lap cover onto lap and take a time out to grieve, to relax, toremove themselves from heat of crisis for a few moments. When lap coveris closed, it signals the end of the time out, but as the instructionssuggest, that opportunity can be revisited any time the person wants.

I would like to form a non-profit organization to distribute lap coversto first responder sites like hospitals, fire stations, police stations,disaster centers, where the lap covers will be given to people incrisis, similar to teddy bears given to children.

Lap covers have been given names that address their application, some ofwhich are PetLaps, BabyLaps, FocusLaps, StudyLaps, ProSportLaps,SportsLaps, PrayerLaps, CarLaps, WarmLaps, TravelLaps, CraftLaps, andComfortLaps. The design is identical for each, but fleece patterns,colors and labels differentiate. Licensing agreements with businessesand educational institutions will permit logo placement onto lap cover.

When user first acquires lap cover, even before reading instructions,user is exposed to intended operation of strap 20 and lap cover foldingbecause user must lift strap 20 up over folded outside cover 21 andrelease strap 20. User's next impulse is to unfold lap cover, presentinginside cover 23 that accumulates soil, folds onto itself and is securedwith strap 20 to keep soil contained and prevented from transferring tohuman.

Strap 20 is the key in keeping soiled inside cover 23 folded onto itselfand keeping outside cover 21 clean. Strap 20 center position provideseven tension where it wraps around outside of lap cover and to keep lapcover closed. The stretch of strap 20 and the balanced center positionallow strap 20 to be a length that gives relaxed hold, as opposed to atight hold that elastic would create, which would cause lap cover to fanopen, exposing soiled side 23.

Several commercially available means exist to secure lap cover in aclosed position, but each of them satisfies only one closurerequirement, rendering them unacceptable. Primary fastener requirementsare durability, ease of use, and safety. To satisfy those requirements,fastener must be able to repeatedly stretch and return to originalshape, satisfying durability. It must have no parts requiring fingerdexterity, satisfying ease of use. The fastener must have no small partsthat can be swallowed by pets or children, and be without pieces thatcan entangle pets and children. Commercial fasteners with small partsrequire vision and finger dexterity and can loosen and detach, and beswallowed by pets and children.

Strap 20 construction from fleece fabric satisfies all functionalelements, plus adds decorative element as strap 20 is cut from samefabric as inside cover 23, turning strap 20 into an embellishment.Inside cover 23 is printed fleece and outside cover 21 is solid coloredfleece. All edges of lap cover are covered with printed fabric formingwhat appears to be a binding, but is actually inside cover 23 extendededges wrapped up over the padding 22 onto top of outside cover 21, wherethey are top stitched into place. Fleece crosswise grain stretches andlengthwise grain is stretch resistant, as a rule. Strap 20 is cut oncrosswise grain, making it able to stretch over an item larger than itsoriginal cut length and then return to original size and shape. The seaminside strap 20 is sewn under tension, or with special stretch stitches,which helps retain shape and elasticity. Strap 20 stretch abilitypermits use of a shorter strap 20, which minimizes tangling withanything. In addition, the shorter, lightweight fleece strap 20 drapeswith little independent movement, making it less likely to attract playfrom animals. Stretch of strap 20, as well as fabric softness, helps toprotect pets and children from becoming entangled and injured.

Compact size and longer rectangular shape of lap cover placedhorizontally provide a just-right size and shape to cover tops ofthighs, and extend over knees and sides of thighs on nearly anyone.Placed vertically, the lap cover provides protection over the chest, andcan extend up over the shoulder for holding a child or pet, or down ontothe lap for protection from food and beverage soil while in a car.

Three layer construction has several benefits. Loft of fleece providesmore padding than hard surface fabric, and polyester batting adds innerpadding to make a warm, cushioned lap cover for both humans and pets.Pet claws and nails are kept from human skin and clothes, and hard babyshoes are less uncomfortable. Liquids from babies, pets and food takemore time to go through all layers, giving time to quickly remove wetlap cover and keep clothes clean and dry. Instead of pet and baby feetslipping on clothes and into the human legs crack, the 3 layers providea more stable base to minimize foot slippage.

Lap cover also serves simply to keep many kinds of soil, such asnewsprint smudges, from clothes and furnishings, and to remind userwhich side has soil, by print versus solid color side.

Use of fleece is intentional not only for its easy machine wash and drycare, and for its soft thick cushion, but also because fleece tends toattract and hold hair, fur, little bits of dirt, small snips of paper,thread, and more, keeping soil on lap cover and off clothes andfurnishings. Additionally, fleece is lightweight, durable, rather snagresistant, comes in an amazing variety of colors and prints, and is“green” because it's made partly of recycled plastic.

Lap cover provides a perfectly sized base for people who like to handcraft projects that rest on their laps. Lap cover will catch and holdlittle pieces of paper or thread for neat and easy disposal. If projectis interrupted, user can fold lap cover onto project and set aside untiltime to resume project. “Stickiness” of fleece will help hold projectpieces in place. When project is finished, lap cover can be folded toencase scraps, removed without spilling mess onto furnishings, andshaken where scraps can be purposely discarded, saving time and effort.

Construction pieces are simple. Lap cover is constructed of five pieces,reference numerals as follows:

21 outside cover of solid color fleece, preferably anti-pill variety,cut approximately 48.3 cm deep by 81.2 cm long

22 inside padding, usually polyester, minimum 6.4 oz. weight because ofeventual compression from repeated use, cut approximately 48.3 cm deepby 81.2 cm long

23 inside cover of print fleece, color complimentary to solid color ofoutside cover 21, preferably anti-pill variety, cut approximately 55.9cm deep by 91.4 cm long

20 strap of same fleece as inside cover 23, cut approximately 3.7 cmwide by approximately 48.3 cm long on crosswise grain cut.

30 label for brand identity and laundering instructions, any size neededto contain all the lettering

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Thus the reader will see that at least one embodiment of lap coverprovides a more desirable product to serve persons of all ages.

While my above description contains many specificities, these should notbe construed as limitations on the scope, but rather exemplification ofseveral preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations arepossible.

For example, to address needs for owners of large dogs that act like lapdogs, the same design can be enlarged to approximately 6 feet long by2-3 feet wide. This larger size will cover the human lap plus extendover enough sofa area to protect the sofa from nails, fur and dirt.Super sized lap cover can be made with the usual 2 fleece layers andinner batting, or could use only the 2 layers of fleece. Because largerdogs will tend to jump onto furniture beside their human, rather thanjump onto the lap, padding between the two layers is less important asmost of the dog's body will rest upon the furniture. Padding can beconsidered a nice addition. Top stitch construction will be used forthis larger version, as well, because it is a one step process thatbinds fabric layers, keeps layers from shifting, and provides thedecorative “binding” effect from 23 being wrapped up over 21. Inaddition, stitching through the extra layer of fabric will help toreinforce seams that could be vulnerable to heavier, more vigorous dogs.Strap 20 should be added to keep available the option of choosing thedog side and the clean side.

Another variation on the same design can be the fabric. Fleece is suchan excellent choice due to cost, durability, loft for comfort,laundering ease, light weight, attraction of pet fur, and the partly“green” components of recycled plastic. However, custom lap covers canbe ordered in nearly any kind of fabric.

Lap cover can be made in an endless variety of colors and patterns,including some sports logo fabrics. There is no limitation to color andpattern.

Lap cover introduction and preferred embodiment, PetLaps, is to solvethe discomfort of small pets on laps of their humans. However, asoutlined above, the same design can be used in other applications, suchas in the car.

Lap cover in the car, CarLaps, will warm laps, protect clothes whileeating in the car, and protect car upholstery from soils because of lapcover design elements. Additionally, drivers often need a quick nap andneed something handy to use as a pillow. Lap cover folded closed,secured with strap 20, and then folded into a square makes a comfortablepillow option over the car seat back. If a nap were more comfortable,perhaps more people would indulge and lives would be saved.

Lap cover for baby care, BabyLaps, is almost identical to petapplication, with addition of some options for travel, such as beingable to designate the inside cover as the clean side and outside as thepublic side. Having an alternate safe place other than a lap for baby torest is very desirable.

Lap cover can also be a branding tool used by educational institutions,sports teams, car manufacturers and other companies wishing to connecttheir name with a clever product and a positive experience. Names canappear on logo fabric and labels. For example, auto makers would havelabels stating “CarLaps by (name of company)”. Local dealers would havean exclusive on carrying the CarLaps. Think about the brandingopportunity for that one. If the person bought only the CarLaps, theywould have a constant reminder of the auto maker every time they drovetheir own car.

Lap cover used for repetition-to-habit training as discussed above wouldbe another application. Many of these would overlap with brandingoptions, such as school logo lap covers that students would use whilestudying. Sports teams are very big on selling branding products, andfans love them. Some of the names for these would be StudyLaps,FocusLaps, SportLaps, and ProSportLaps.

Lap cover for more personal applications can be PrayerLaps, FocusLapsand ComfortLaps. Repetition-to-habit training would apply, but thepermissive aspect would override the task focus, particularly withprayer habits and grieving facilitated through ComfortLaps.

Lap cover for people who use wheelchairs rather than their legs is sizedperfectly to warm laps without extra bulk of blankets to slip to thefloor or tangle with wheels. We would call these either ComfortLaps orWarmLaps, or they would use PetLaps for their small pet. Pets can bedangerous for people with sensory impairment. They could be confidentthat their skin would be safe from claws.

Lap cover for traveling, TravelLaps, assures the traveler of cleanplaces to rest one's body or head, warms cold laps, is a lightweighttravel item that dries quickly, and offers complete portability.

Original construction method that makes the most sense is practical,easily mass manufactured and cost effective. However, possiblevariations could include larger size, same fabric on both sides, fabricother than fleece, no padding, seam stitch construction, alternateclosures, and more. These variations would alter the multi-purposeattractiveness of lap cover. Construction costs for a large dog versionof the original PetLaps would result in a slight price rise due toincrease of fabric and change in the construction automation.

Good alternative fabric variation is possible if a fabric is found thatis easily laundered and can attract and hold fur and dirt as well asfleece. Also, small size variations that keep lap cover size within thegeneral lap area are of little importance.

Closures other than strap 20 are unacceptable for a variety of reasons.Small parts that require exact matching, such as snaps, “get lost” inthe deep loft of fleece and padding, and require finger dexterity andreading glasses for some people. Hook-and-loop tape halves can snagclothing and attract hair and lint, soon rendering them useless. Ribbonsattract animal chewing and clawing, and buttons can be chewed andswallowed, posing obvious dangers. Fasteners must be easy to use orpeople will give up easily and part of the design benefits will becompromised. While strap 20 is the best fastener choice, other lessdesirable options could be used with reduced success.

Although descriptions above contain numerous specificities, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merelyproviding illustrations of some presently preferred embodiments.

Thus, the scope of embodiments should be determined by the appendedclaims and legal equivalents.

1. A lap cover
 2. The lap cover of claim 1 wherein said cover iscomprised of cloth.
 3. The lap cover of claim 1 wherein said cloth istwo layers.
 4. The lap cover of claim 1 wherein said cloth layers arethe same shape.
 5. The lap cover of claim 1 wherein said cloth layershapes are the same with differing sizes.
 6. The lap cover of claim 1wherein said cloth layers are differing sizes providing ability oflarger layer to wrap over top of smaller layer, thereby completingconstruction.
 7. The lap cover of claim 1 wherein said two layers ofcloth surround one layer of sandwiched inner batting.
 8. The lap coverof claim 1 wherein said layers of cloth and batting comprise thicknessthereby providing warmth and a cushioned surface.
 9. The lap cover ofclaim 1 wherein said cover method for closing comprises a stretchablefabric loop shaped strap.
 10. The lap cover of claim 1 wherein said loopshape strap is made of same fabric that comprises lap cover fabric. 9.The lap cover of claim 1 wherein said loop shape strap having means forattachment to mid point of one end of said lap cover.
 10. The lap coverof claim 1 wherein said loop shape strap, to loop over and hold lapcover in folded closed position.
 11. The lap cover of claim 1 whereinsaid loop shape strap holds lap cover in folded closed position, suchthat two more folded positions are possible.
 12. The lap cover of claim1 wherein said closed position further including one fold providing asquare pillow shape and the other fold providing a neck roll shape. 13.The lap cover of claim 1 wherein shape of said lap cover is rectangular.14. The lap cover of claim 1 wherein rectangular shape is the size of anaverage human lap.